Customer Reviews

Body Language (Mark Manning Mysteries (Kensington Paperback))

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is my favorite book of the series. Michael Craft is definitely improving as a writer. This story is much more developed that the previous ones and I enjoyed the move to a new local. But... as much as I enjoyed it, I agree with everything in Drew Brainard's review below. With the exception of Manning, the characters lack depth. I too would love to get inside Neil's head - learn what makes him tick.

Minor criticisms aside, I too had a hard time putting this one down and can't wait till the next in the series. Great mystery - buy it!

Another great book in the Mark Manning series. Mark has decided to buy his own newspaper, and move into an old family home in Dumont. Returning to the home revives fond memories of his cousin Mark, and his uncle. However, tragedy soon occurs, and it is up to Manning to solve the case. I could not put it down once I started on it. I can honestly say that I figured out who did it this time. Maybe I should start writing myself! Nah!

You will love this book. Buy it today!

This one so far is my favorite. The suspence of getting to the next page was killing me along with the first murdered victim in this well written episode. I thought the writers attempt to rope us into the pages making us walk along side the lead character was a success. At times I felt the blood on my hands. It wasn't me! The characters chosen all had a reason to be a bit guilty of this crime the way he threw hints of hatered and unstable personalities our way. At the moment when you thought you had it solved there was a twist that dragged you into another direction. Brilliant writing I say, just brilliant. He did it, NO, she did it. Well, maybe she did it. Or perhaps he did do it. Nah! I am certain she did it. Who really did do it will be your thoughts all the way through this story until you reach the chapter where everybody sees proof of who did do it only to discover that that person didn't really do it, but the other being you had your eye on who turned out to be the killer was not actually the one you thought it to be at all. Make sence. You will when you read it. And read it you must. I loved it! On to the next.

It is interesting how he makes the relationships less than perfect, as they most are. On his new book, I am glad he has made them a happy couple and has concentrated on the mystery side. I think it is neat. I love mystery novels, but I also like happy relationships which the hero can fall on for help. I wish more people would do that.

Chicago journalist Mark Manning has many reasons to be the happiest person alive. His relationship with his spouse Neil Waite has solidified, turning them into a blissful couple. He is wealthy enough to maintain his current lifestyle for the rest of his life and Neil,s architectural expertise has them living in a near perfect home. Still, Mark feels despondent after reporting the story of the century.

Mark seeks a new Everest to climb and thinks he found it in Durmont, Wisconsin, the home of his cousins, the Quatrains. He purchases their former home and the local newspaper, and settles into life in the small town. He meets Suzanne Quatrain, her retarded brother Joey, and her son Thad. However, someone murders Suzanne, leaving Mark as the prime suspect because he suspiciously inherits a large chunk of cash. The intrepid reporter begins an investigation to clear his name.

BODY LANGUAGE carries less of the emotional tome normally included in a Mark Manning novel because the protagonist and his partner seem more durable and loving than the turmoil of the previous books. The truth behind the well-designed mystery surfaces diabolically but cleverly slow as readers are unable to stop reading until Michael Craft reveals whom the culprit is. Adding to the fun is a twist that alters the Manning-Waite relationship and making the audience want more crafty tales from this stupendous writer.

Harriet Klausner

I am an avid mystery fan, Agathie Christie being my favorite for years. Michael Craft has really done an outstanding job in this book. I could not put it down and read it in one day. That is very unusual for me to do, I usually put a book down and then come back a few days later. The characters are all believable and delightful and by the end I felt they were friends.

Cleverly crafted, top notch writing. Craft has a real love for the language and it shows. I cared about these characters and their outcome.

BODY LANGUAGE, the third novel in this mystery series is Michael Craft's best so far. Mr. Mark Manning returns, as dapper as ever. He still drinks Japanese vodka with a twist of orange peel, writes only with a Montblanc pen and drives a Bavarian V-8. His lover Neil is still in the picture as is Roxanne, the woman attorney friend of both Mark and Neil. Frustrated because he did not win a coveted Partridge Prize, investigative journalism's highest award, and believing the reason he didn't get the reward he richly deserved is because of homophobia, Manning leaves his job he has held for many years at a newspaper in Chicago and moves to Dumont, Wisconsin and purchases a small but excellent newspaper there. And then all hell breaks loose. A woman relative is killed in Manning's home while the house is full of Christmas guests and he becomes the prim suspect as well as inheriting a fortune from the dead woman, along with custody of her unruly teenaged son.

The plot gets quite byzantine and is a little over the top. Mr. Craft, however, certainly takes risks and as always engages the reader in what is going on. His usual sense of humor is here with hooty references to fruitcakes as well as a feminist who organization of women is called "Fem-Snach." The Catholic Church takes as shellacking as well when santimonious priests give "fill-in-the-blanks" sermons, eulogizing people who haven't seen the inside of a church for many years. Finally, your eyes will cross-- in a good way-- because of all the references to khaki-clad butts.

So we have a complex plot, characters we care about, and Mr. Craft's usual pitch for gay rights-- his best in this series yet.

This installment of the popular series about gay investigative reporter Mark Manning demonstrates that a new locale and the author's improved writing skills have breathed new life into what could have become another drawn out series. Manning has grown complacent at his job at a prestigious Chicago newspaper. When the opportunity arises to buy a house that once belonged to his deceased uncle, Mark seizes the opportunity and returns to the town where he spent a very enjoyable visit. He also buys the town's newspaper and becomes its publisher. This new title rejuvenates Mark and he is all the more engaging for it.

Upon his return, he reconnects with his cousins Joey and Suzanne, and Suzanne's teenaged son, Thad. Of course, the inevitable death occurs. Surprisingly it's Suzanne, who has designated Mark as custodian for the boy. In addition to anti-gay hate mail, he is now saddled with a seemingly homophobic and belligerent cousin. Thad's custody is called into question by the town's local harpy (and she's quite a character). Throw into the mix that Mark is the prime suspect in Suzanne's murder, and you have a welcomed addition to this series and a main character you can really root for.

I've read these in sequence, but agree with one review below that this entry was a bit lame. I was able to guess the murderer well in advance. The text seems contains frequent descriptions of perfect meals and perfectly accessorized clothing of the characters; this was very tiresome after awhile, and does a disservice to the gay community by perpetuating the image of gay men as being materialistic and shallow.